Thankful

They sat on the roof of Carol's friend Casey's apartment building, bundled up against the cold, misty rain. Despite the less than desirable weather, Hatter was riveted. His mouth hung open and his eyes were wide. They were almost eye level with the next balloon that went floating by, this one a giant SpongeBob SquarePants. It was Hatter's first Thanksgiving parade.

Down below on the sidewalks people were shoulder to shoulder; they had a better view of the floats, but Alice had always preferred the balloons. Besides, Casey had a portable TV up on the roof, under cover from the rain, so that they could see what was happening on street level.

"How can your mum miss all this?" Hatter asked. He sipped from his thermos of tea.

"She prefers watching it on TV," Alice replied. She pulled her fleece blanket further up under her chin. "Besides, someone has to be home when Aunt Patty and Aunt Viv get in."

"Your Aunt Patty is in town?" Casey asked. Between her snugglie and her knit cap, only her eyes and nose were visible. "I haven't seen her in years."

"Mom invites her every year, but she's always too busy." Alice shrugged. "I think she's only coming now to meet Hatter."

"I hope I don't disappoint," Hatter replied with a grin.

Alice just rolled her eyes. Conversation dropped off for a while as they watched more of the parade. And then Alice was leaning forward, watching the TV. She tugged on Hatter's arm.

"There he is! There's Santa!"

"Parade's all done," Casey said. She was already on her feet, gathering up her blankets and her coffee. "Bring the TV down when you're done, kids."

"Thanks, Casey," Alice said.

Hatter was closely studying the television screen, which was in a close-up of Santa waving at the kids. Even though she wasn't a kid herself anymore, Alice always got a little thrill when Santa closed out the parade each year.

"He's the one that brings presents, yeah?" Hatter asked.

"Yup. For me, the Christmas season officially starts tomorrow. Black Friday." Alice shut off the TV and wrapped it up in plastic to protect if from the rain.

"Sounds ominous." Hatter hefted the television set and followed Alice, who had grabbed everything else.

"It's not. It's supposed to be the biggest shopping day of the year. I usually start my Christmas shopping then." Alice held open the door for Hatter, then followed him into the elevator.

"Shall I come with?"

"I can't shop for you if you're with me, Hatter," Alice said.

"Fine, then. I'll go on my own." Hatter gave her a pouty face, which just made her laugh. She leaned across the TV and kissed him.

*o*o*o*

Alice gave her mother's door a perfunctory knock before walking in; she held it open for Hatter, who was carefully carrying the two pies he'd made. The smells wafting out of the kitchen were enough to make her mouth water – turkey, onions and pumpkin pie.

"Alice!" A woman with short-cropped blonde hair came running, and crushed Alice into a tight hug. Alice hugged her back, laughing.

"Aunt Patty!"

"You look wonderful, darling," Aunt Patty said. She held Alice out at arm's length and gave her a looking over. "Your fiancé must be good in bed."

Alice flushed, and heard Hatter choking behind her. That drew Aunt Patty's attention, and she abandoned Alice to take a closer look at Hatter.

"You must be David."

"It's a pleasure to meet you," Hatter said politely.

"Of course it is," Patty said. Alice rolled her eyes and smiled at Hatter over her aunt's shoulder. "You look like you'll do."

"Thank you?" Hatter said uncertainly.

"Leave them alone, Patty." Another woman came into the room. She was taller than Aunt Patty, and thinner, with curly salt and pepper hair.

"Hey, Aunt Viv!" Alice gave her a hug. "Help me save Hatter?"

"You don't need to save him, darling," Aunt Patty said. "He looks quite capable."

"Well, I can help you with these anyway." Aunt Viv took the pies from Hatter and headed back towards the kitchen. "Dinner's almost ready, kids."

Aunt Patty took Alice by the arm and moved her towards the sofa. "I want to hear all about what you've been up to. Leave nothing out and start with David."

"I think I'll just go help Carol," Hatter said. He practically ran from the room.

"You're scaring him," Alice scolded.

"He's a big boy," Aunt Patty said dismissively. "Is he good to you? Are there any problems with the sex, because I'd be happy to give him some pointers."

"Aunt Patty, please stop talking about sex. You're going to embarrass him." Alice herself was embarrassed, even though Aunt Patty had been trying to advise her on her sex life since she was eighteen.

"So no problems then?"

"No. No problems."

"Well I'm glad of that, anyway. How did you meet him?"

Alice went with the stock answer, the one she told everyone. Jack had cheated on her, and she'd sworn she was through with men. And then Hatter had saved her from being mugged, had in fact saved her life, and there was just something about him that made her take a second look. Carol hadn't been in favor of adding the whole mugging scenario, but Alice insisted that Hatter get at least some of the credit he was due. Besides, it just made for a better story.

"Very heroic," Aunt Patty mused. "Smells like bullshit, but it's a nice story."

Alice merely shrugged. "It is what it is."

She was saved from further explanation by the return of Aunt Viv, who was wiping her hands on a kitchen towel. "The chef has informed me that dinner is ready."

Everyone pitched in, carrying platters, bowls and serving utensils from the kitchen to the dining room table. The pies were arranged on the sideboard for after dinner, and Alice was already telling herself not to eat too much so she'd save plenty of room.

Hatter carried out the pomegranate-glazed turkey, which fairly gleamed in the light. Alice swore her tongue was literally going to fall out of her mouth. It being Hatter's first Thanksgiving, Carol had really gone all out – chestnut stuffing, skin-on mashed red potatoes, sweet potato casserole with marshmallows, buttered mashed turnips, and green bean casserole. Not to mention Alice's favorite, cranberry sauce from a can.

"Wow, everything looks great Mom!" Alice set down the bowl of stuffing and took her place at the table next to Hatter.

"It's like the first Thanksgiving, yeah?" Hatter said. Alice looked at him, her eyebrow quirked up as she waited to see where he was going with that.

"How so?" Aunt Viv asked, looking interested.

"It's like two cultures coming together," Hatter elaborated. "I'd be the Pilgrims, knowing nothing of your customs."

"Are you saying we're the Indians?" Aunt Patty didn't sound amused.

"You're supposed to say Native Americans," Carol corrected.

"Who the hell is going to care, CeeCee?"

Hatter looked confused. "CeeCee?"

"Aunt Patty calls her that because her initials used to be C.C. Carol Caggiano," Alice explained.

Carol shook her head. "Patty calls me that because she knows it irritates me."

"What else is a little sister for?" Aunt Patty asked sweetly.

"How does Viv fit in? Youngest? Oldest?" Hatter asked. Everyone stopped and stared at him for a minute, and then Patty burst out laughing.

"You didn't tell him? Oh, that's precious!" Aunt Patty clapped her hands together. "Even after all these years you still can't say it, can you CeeCee?"

Hatter leaned over and whispered in Alice's ear. "Did I just start something?"

Alice shook her head. "They always get into it like this," she whispered back. She would have explained it to Hatter ahead of time, but she honestly hadn't thought about it. She'd forgotten how Aunt Patty could be sometimes.

"Viv isn't related to CeeCee and me," Aunt Patty said. "She's my wife. My homosexual life partner. My lesbian lover."

"Patty, really!" Carol exclaimed.

Even Aunt Viv was flushing. "Patty, not now."

"Yes, now! David is going to be part of the family and he needs to know what he's getting into. I'm surprised CeeCee didn't warn him ahead of time about the faulty genes." Aunt Patty's face had gone red, and she glared at Carol. Hatter watched with wide eyes.

"Enough!" Alice snapped. She stood up and put both hands on the table. "Mom, Aunt Patty is gay. Aunt Patty, we don't care. Really. It's Hatter's first Thanksgiving and I'd just like to get to the eating part."

"Well said, Alice." Aunt Viv glared at Aunt Patty. "I'm sure we can all be adults, at least for one day."

"Fine," Carol said sullenly.

"She's the one with the problem," grumbled Aunt Patty.

"Maybe you should give the blessing," Aunt Viv said to Alice.

"Yeah, okay." Alice sat back down, clasped Hatter's hand in hers and bowed her head. "We are thankful to be together. As a family. We are thankful for the food we have to eat. We are thankful for every small and wonderful thing that comes into our lives. And I am incredibly thankful that the man sitting beside me loves me, which he will hopefully continue to do after today. Amen."

"Amen," everyone echoed. Hatter gave Alice a quick grin, and then began to pass around the food.

"Make sure Alice gets a drumstick," Aunt Patty said.

"I don't want the drumstick," Alice objected. "I only like the white meat."

"Can't fight tradition, darling. Youngest gets the leg."

Alice grudgingly took the leg, which Hatter promptly slid off of her plate and on to his. "You took it, love. No-one said you had to eat it."

"Have I mentioned how much I love you?" Alice asked. She gave Hatter a kiss.

"Geez, get a room," Aunt Patty complained. But her eyes were twinkling, and for the remainder of the meal she was nothing but pleasant.

*o*o*o*

After dinner everyone gathered in the living room for the annual viewing of Laurel and Hardy's March of the Wooden Soldiers – a Caggiano family tradition. It was a good time to sit and relax and make room for pie, which would come after. Alice sat snuggled up to Hatter, grinning every time he laughed at something in the movie.

When it was time for pie, Carol made a big fuss over the two that Hatter had made – apple cranberry and pecan. The pecan had come out a bit runny, but even Aunt Patty seemed impressed.

"He cooks too? You're a keeper, aren't you."

Hatter chuckled. "It's either keep me or Alice has to do her own cooking. I figure that's an easy choice."

"It's true," Alice said, nodding. "If he couldn't cook, I'd have tossed him out by now."

"Like he'd go," Carol laughed.

"Alice, have you decided where you're going to get married?" Aunt Viv asked, scooping some whipped cream on top her pie. "It's April third, right? Aunt Patty and I will definitely fly back for that."

"You could come to California to get married," Aunt Patty said. "Weather will be nicer."

Alice shook her head. "No, thanks. We're going to get married here in the city, in Central Park. At the Bow Bridge."

"That's the bridge at the end of that movie, You've Got Mail," Carol said.

Aunt Viv nodded but Aunt Patty snorted.

"I couldn't watch that whole movie. It was mind-numbing."

Aunt Viv shook her head. "You don't have a romantic bone in your body."

"Sleepless in Seattle was better," Carol put in.

"More fluffy tripe," Aunt Patty said dismissively. "And we're getting off topic. So you'll be married on a bridge? What about the reception?"

"We were able to get the Boathouse!" Alice was excited about that. It was a tough place to book because everyone wanted to use it, but luck had been with them. Luck, and the money her grandparents had given them. Getting married in Central Park was far from cheap, particularly with all the permits you had to pay for. But she wanted everything to be perfect, and so far it was really coming together.

"They booked you?" Carol asked. "Oh, sweetie, that's great! I know how much you wanted it."

"A boat house?" Aunt Patty asked.

"The Boathouse," Alice clarified. It's right on the water, and the view is beautiful."

What she couldn't say, at least not in front of her aunts, was how she had chosen those two sites based largely on the symbolism they had for her. The Bow Bridge, which spanned the lake and was backed by the Rambles, seemed to encapsulate Wonderland for her. The ledges, the lake, the Forest of Wabe. It evoked memories of the many ways Hatter had helped her, how their relationship had begun. The Boathouse put her in mind of Hatter's little smuggling boat, when he'd first announced his intention to return to her world. She hadn't even told Hatter, for fear it would all sound foolish if she said it out loud.

"It'll be right lovely in April," Hatter said. "Flowers coming up and all."

"It sounds like it will be beautiful," Aunt Viv said with a smile. "When are you sending out the invites?"

"January." Alice nibbled on her pumpkin pie. "We're not inviting many people, just about twenty or so. We want to keep it intimate."

"How's that going to go over with the Hamiltons?" Aunt Patty asked. "They're a big clan."

"It'll be fine," Carol said. "I've already talked to Rose and she agrees that Alice should have the size wedding she wants. I don't think all the second and third cousins are going to mind, honestly."

"It's going to be perfect," Alice said. She leaned over to steal a kiss from Hatter. "We could get married on a garbage scow and it would still be perfect."

"Well, let me know if you make the change," Aunt Patty said. "I'm not flying in to be surrounded by garbage and seagulls."

*o*o*o*

It was well after eleven when Alice and Hatter got back to their apartment. Alice felt a little guilty leaving her mother with Aunt Patty for the night, but she knew Aunt Viv would keep them from killing each other. Right now all she wanted to do was crawl into bed and not think about the ridiculous amounts of food she'd eaten.

"Are all your Thanksgivings like this, love?" Hatter asked as he got changed for bed.

"No. Aunt Patty doesn't usually come, and she's the troublemaker."

"I'm sorry for that." Hatter flipped his hat up onto the shelf. "I didn't mean to cause a row."

Alice smiled at him. "You didn't. Honestly. Aunt Patty just likes to fight, and she knows my mom is uncomfortable with the whole lesbian thing."

"I don't know why. Doesn't seem so unusual."

"It's not so much now, but it used to be quite a stigma. And Aunt Patty has always been very vocal and up-front about it. Made it hard for Mom sometimes." Alice finished getting changed and flopped down on the bed with a happy sigh. "Anyway, we don't see her much."

Hatter shut off the light and got into bed, pulling Alice close against him.

"You know what I'm thankful for, love?" he asked.

"Tell me," Alice said.

"I'm thankful for Jack."

Alice pushed herself up on her elbow and looked down at Hatter in disbelief. "Jack? Seriously?"

"Seriously. If he hadn't mucked things up with you, I'd never have met you." Hatter pulled her down for a kiss. "I love you, Alice."

"I love you too, Hatter." Alice snuggled back in close to him. And she was thankful for that in and of itself – that she had this man to hold her close and love her so completely. She guessed she owed Jack for that as well.

"Thank you, Jack," she whispered under her breath.

AN: Okay, I'm trying to get back on track with this set of one-shots. I know some of you have been waiting very impatiently for these. I've been pretty impatient, too – I want to get to the wedding already! LOL! I'll try to have more regular updates, as long as random plot bunnies will leave me alone. (Anyone got a BB gun?)

Thanks to duchessfaleen for the continued gifts of edible Hatters and the frequent begging to finish this dang chapter. Keep nagging me, I clearly need it! Writing this chapter was a struggle of immense proportions, LOL! Hopefully the next few will go more smoothly. Stay tuned!